Newsletter 121 - February 1st 2024

Prayer of the Week:

 What will this year bring?

We do not know; It will bring its usual times of work and play, Experiences of success and failure, all the things that are part of school life. It is a new beginning; the planting of a seed that will grow for a year, the seed of fruit that will blossom in times to come.

It is new hope; hope for good work, for successful results, for friendships, for fun, for learning. In this coming year, may there be learning, prayer and fun. May there be hard work, faith and friendship. May no one in this school be lonely; may no one be left out in class; may no one suffer through the others here. As we begin this year in hope, in prayer and in friendship, may the Lord begin it with us, be with us during it,  and successfully bring it to its conclusion. Amen

Principals Report:

Dear St Patrick’s community

I trust this message finds you well and ready for an exciting school year. It's been a great start, and it's wonderful to see the many smiling faces around the school. I extend a warm welcome the new students and their families that have joined us this year in Foundation and other year levels. I’m very excited to start my first full year in Principalship. The six weeks I did last year demonstrated so many wonderful things about the school and allowed me to get a jump start on some administrative tasks over the summer. We have had an advertisement running over the summer for a front office administration position for two days a week. This has been a very fruitful experience with many applications for us to consider. We are hopeful that by about the end of February we will be through the interview process and have a new person start with us. As always, we will need to provide some patience as this person learns the flow of our school. 

During our staff professional development day on Monday, we focused on continuing our work with Visible Learning. This involved a thorough review of our strategies for demonstrating intended learning and criteria for success for our students. 

In compliance with Ministerial Order 1359, we also revisited the staff code of conduct as part of our Child Safety program, ensuring that we adhere to all legal requirements. Families who work with us in volunteer capacities such as the School Advisory Committee, Parents and Friends group and those who attend to help in classrooms will also have to sign a new code of conduct form for the new school year. We’ll catch you at the front office to complete these. 

Additionally, our team revisited our process for organising excursions, emphasising a paramount commitment to child safety and risk management. Please note that this year, there will be more excursion permission requests through the Parent Access Module (PAM). We can no longer use blanket permissions, such as the one issued at the beginning of the year for activities within town boundaries. Each excursion, given its unique risks, requires a new consent request. While this may result in more notifications through PAM, it is a necessary adjustment to meet the legal requirements for taking students off-site. 

On a personal note, I extend our best wishes to Lillie and Will for their upcoming wedding. We celebrate this joyous occasion with Lillie and wish her a beautiful and memorable wedding day.

With Kind Blessings, 

Bettina

A word from the office:

*Please note that if your child is going home earlier or by different transport i.e not on the bus,  or people; you are to contact the school office           5358 2493 before 2:30pm, not the teacher via DOJO as they often only check these messages outside of school hours. Thankyou.

Wellbeing:

Kids’ Sleep A Key Indicator Of Wellbeing

Australia’s largest survey of children’s happiness finds that sleep is a key indicator of wellbeing – but traditional things like reading and pets still make kids smile.

What are kids telling us about what’s important to their wellbeing?

Pets are high on the list, but perhaps more surprisingly for parents accustomed to their children complaining at bed time, Australia’s largest survey of children’s wellbeing has found that kids are happiest when they are getting a good night’s sleep.

And many kids themselves recognise that their beloved electronic gadgets are getting in the way of sleep.

The ABC’s ‘Behind the News’ kids program’s latest ‘Happiness Survey’ of almost 47,000 children, has found that having a good night’s sleep is a key indicator of a child’s wellbeing. Children who regularly have the recommended hours of sleep each night reported significantly higher levels of both happiness and feelings of safety.

And many kids are upfront that their electronic devices can get in the way of sleep. Some 29 per cent report that on at least some nights of the week their device stops them from getting enough sleep. The issue is more common for older children (aged 12-18) with 37 per cent blaming their devices compared with 27 per cent among younger kids (aged 6-11). About 47 per cent reported that they regularly slept within reach of their device.

“We all know that sleep is important but we didn’t realise just how significant it is as an indicator of a child’s wellbeing,” says Professor Lisa Gibbs, Chair of the University of Melbourne’s Children’s Lives Initiative that is the research partner on what is only the second iteration of survey.

“The data doesn’t give us a cause and effect, but it reveals a very strong association that suggests if kids aren’t getting the right amount of sleep, something isn’t right.”

Originally planned by Behind The News as a one-off online survey to engage its child viewers in mental health issues, the 2015 Happiness Survey proved spectacularly popular, attracting almost 20,000 responses and now more than double that.

It was enough to attract the attention of academics at the University of Melbourne who immediately recognised its potential as a serious research tool.

“Behind the News have established an amazing online platform which enables them to collect data from a large number of children very efficiently,” says Professor Gibbs.

“We were blown away by the number of responses we got from kids right around Australia,” says Behind The News producer and host Nathan Bazley. “With the help of the University of Melbourne, the results from this survey will help increase awareness about some of the biggest challenges kids today face.”

Areas Of Concern

The latest survey paints a generally positive picture of the wellbeing of Australian children with 62 per cent reporting they felt happy lots of the time, but there are some red flags. Professor Gibbs says she was shocked that 10 percent of children reported not feeling safe at home, and that 26 per cent reported that they didn’t have anyone they felt they could talk to about their worries. Those that open up about their worries, such as to parents, friends or teachers, were three times more likely to report being happy most of the time.

“At 10 per cent, the number of kids saying they don’t feel safe at home is very concerning and enough to say that we need to be taking a closer look at this,” says Professor Gibbs.

“Having supportive family and school environments, and having friends, are important factors in children building resilience. But if a child’s starting point is that they don’t feel safe at home then their capacity to thrive will be significantly undermined,” she warns.

Children who reported not feeling safe, whether it is in their home, school (15 percent) or neighbourhood (25 percent), were four times more likely to not be sleeping right. And the 62 per cent of children who reported being happy lots of the time were twice as likely to be getting the right amount of sleep.

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

Professor Gibbs says sleeping too much can be just as problematic as not sleeping enough. If kids are sleeping much more than the recommended amount it may be a sign that they are physically or mentally drained, perhaps from stress or anxiety.

Australia’s Sleep Health Foundation recommends that children aged 6-13 years-old have 9-11 hours sleep a night, and those aged 14-17 years-old have 8-10 hours. But it also recommends against getting less than 7 hours or more than 11-12 hours a night. On average children in the survey reported they were getting 9.5 hours sleep a night. Some 4 per cent reported getting less than 7 hours a night.

Professor Gibbs says the preparedness of kids to report that their devices sometimes stopped them from getting enough sleep is a sign that kids are aware of the problem. “It means there is clearly scope for parents to have conversations with their kids about how to manage the use of devices when it comes to sleep.”

While the majority of children reported feeling happy lots of the time, some 6 per cent reported hardly ever feeling happy.

Most (75 per cent) reported being scared or worried at least some of the time, with about 16 per cent reporting being scared or worried lots of the time. Bullying or arguments was something that 19 per cent of kids said they worried about a lot and around 67 per cent reported experiencing bullying. Some 25 per cent said they worry a lot about their bodies and 38 per cent reported worrying a lot about their friendships.

“It is important for children to know that they aren’t the only ones who have worries. What is important is that the majority report having someone to talk to,” says Professor Gibbs.

When asked what were the things that made them most happy, friends (64 per cent) and family (60 per cent) came out on top. Also popular were sport, playing/listening to music, watching TV, and being outside in nature. Reading (39 per cent) came in narrowly ahead of computer games (38 per cent), but it was heavily influenced by gender, with boys much more likely to say computer games make them happy (52 per cent) and girls more likely to say reading made them happy (45 per cent).

But the big surprise was what the survey hadn’t included on its list of things that make children most happy. In the “other” section many kids wrote in animals and pets.

“It is a very strong response given that we hadn’t included animals or pets in the survey, and it is a reminder of the importance of pets in terms of the positive experiences they can bring to children.

“And while childhood is changing that there are some traditional things that are still important, like sleep, talking, reading and maybe pets.”

 Lillie Comitti - Mental Health & Wellbeing Coordinator 

Teaching and Learning:

School Assemblies:  Our assemblies happen each Friday afternoon starting at 2:45pm in the school hall.   Please note change of time due to school now finishing at 3:10pm.  Students are dismissed from the hall on this day.  We invite all our community to come along.  Whole school community invited to attend.

Week 1: Senior H                   

Week 2: Junior R 1                     

Week 3: No assembly                                                                           

Week 4:  No Assembly Swimming Carnival                                    

Week 5: Senior M                                                                                                    

Week 6: Middle B

Week 7: Junior FB                                                                                                      

Week 8: Middle C                                      Week 9: Stations of the cross Thur 28th March 1:45pm

Why have a school assembly?

The intention behind implementing a regular  whole school assembly is to develop a feeling of unity and a positive school culture among the students, staff and our St Patrick’s community.  Simply put, gathering together strengthens the way our school works.  Whether singing a song together, watching a performance by fellow students, sharing class learning or sharing events that have been happening in our community, our goal is to create camaraderie, ignite school spirit and help instill students and families with a sense of belonging. School assembly provides students with the opportunity to develop their confidence by speaking and sharing their learning and thoughts. 

Each learning community will take a turn throughout the term to host assembly and showcase their class learning.  Coming together to celebrate success, showcase learning or strengthen commitment to shared goals is time invested in making St Patrick’s a special place to be. 

Maryanne Comitti   Teaching & Learning Leader 

"Let us thank all those who teach in Catholic Schools. Educating is an act of love; it is like giving life." Pope Francis.

Senior H: 

Welcome back, Senior H! As the doors of the classroom swing open once again, we extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. We hope that your summer break was filled with moments of relaxation and lots of doses of sunshine. As we begin 2024, let us embrace the opportunity to learn and grow academically and spiritually.

This week in our classroom, we have been focusing on reinforcing the fundamental pillars of our students' learning journey: resilience, collaboration, curiosity, risk-taking, and self-motivation.

Through various activities and discussions, we've emphasized the importance of these "superpowers" in navigating both academic challenges and real-world situations. By revisiting these skills, we aim to empower our students to approach learning with confidence and enthusiasm.

We also delved into discovering our unique character traits and exploring how these attributes can contribute to our overall well-being. By understanding and their strengths, they are equipped with valuable tools to navigate challenges and cultivate a sense of resilience and fulfillment in their lives.

Senior H thoroughly enjoyed listening to a chapter about ‘The World's Worst Teacher and the World's Worst Student’. We then discussed what we would like our learner and teacher traits to be.

In Mathematics we have delved straight into our learning starting with a pre-test. Grade 6s who are working with me have started with some revision on decimal fractions. The Grade 5s are working with Mr Moloney and they also started with a pre-test. They have begun their learning around reading and writing six digit numbers.

Tomorrow at assembly we will be showcasing this learning and I look forward to seeing you there.

Learning Dispositions

This year at St Patrick’s we have identified five learning dispositions - Dispositions describe a persons inclination to use particular skills when faced with problems to solve, ideas to evaluate or decisions to make. At  St Patrick’s  we are calling these St Patrick’s Learner Superpowers.  These are qualities  that successful learners use in their everyday life, self - motivated, curious, resilient, collaborative, risk-taker.  Our students will be focusing on learning super powers this week and over the course of their time at St Patricks will be guided and supported to apply these skills in the classroom and their everyday life. 

St Patrick's Learner Superpowers

Living in Faith:

Our school mass is a chance to ask for God’s blessings on all that lies ahead in 2024 for the students, the staff and the families who together make up the St Patrick’s School  community.

St Patrick’s Primary school opening school mass details: 

When:    Tuesday 6thFebruary, 2024

Time:     9:30am 

Where:   St Patrick’s Catholic Church

A cuppa in the school Multipurpose Hall will follow mass

 Maryanne Comitti   

Each Friday till the end of Term 1 our MiniVinnies group will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1.00 each St Vincent de Paul Sponsor a student program. As always we thank our St Patrick’s community for your support. 

Why do we at St Patrick’s raise money for the poor?  

Catholic schools participate in the Church’s mission “to bring the Good News to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In partnership with parents, parishes and other agencies within the Church and the broader community, Catholic schools are called to give witness to a faith which does justice with love. All have a responsibility to read the signs of the times and to respond with love and compassion, ever seeking to protect human dignity and serve the common good. The Catholic Church teaches that the poor represent those who are marginalised in society. Jesus himself taught the importance of helping those who are poor and need help.

Congratulations: 

Congratulations to Jess and Alex on the safe arrival of Isaac a wonderful brother for Xav, Oli (Grade 1), Leon (F) and Sam.

Congratulations to Marnie and  Zach Portelli (pictured above) on the safe arrival of their son  Reuben.  A beautiful brother for Kaison (Grade 1) and Emmeline.  

Congratulations to Erin and Joel and the early arrival of Hartley. A much loved brother for Willow, Lolah, Tanner (Grade 4) and Alfie (Grade 1).   

It’s a big weekend for Ms Lillie Comitti (Foundation teacher/wellbeing leader) who will be getting married.  Lillie will be out Thursday (1st) and Friday (2nd) preparing for her wedding and Monday (5th) recovering.  She will be off Term 2 on her honeymoon. 

A blessing prayer for Lillie and Wil. 

May Lillie and Wil grow old together by sharing life’s joys, struggles and challenges in order to become better people.  

May the blessings of the Lord guide them through their lives as husband and wife.  Amen 

Birthdays:

Congratulations to these students who celebrated their birthday in the holidays and this week: 

Lucas, Edie, Ace, Tamieka, Kobe, Harper, Lily S, Anthony, Aynsley, Indiana, Charlie T V S, Ethan Par and Oscar E.

Diocesan/Parish news:

Mass Times: 
Ararat Sunday 8.30am 
Stawell Sunday 10.30am
Lake Bolac 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays 6.30pm Vigil Sat 
Landsborough 2nd, 4th Sundays 12.30pm
Glenthompson (Hamilton Parish) 2nd, 4th Sundays 8.30am

Around Our Community:

Upcoming Events:

Our Vision and Mission:

Vision Statement: St Patrick's School is a community which reflects and celebrates Christ as its centre point:  By honoring our story we value our whole community.  By coming together our vision is for a loving, just, compassionate and tolerant world.     Mission Statement:  In the tradition of St Patrick, we are committed to: Promoting and celebrating a love of God, self and community.  Recognizing and enhancing the talents and uniqueness of each person through our vision of Prayer, Care and Learning.  PRAYER We nurture and grow our relationship with God as members of a faith community.  CARE We foster recognition of difference, compassion for others and the strength to act on our beliefs. LEARNING We develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills essential to reaching our full potential as life- long learners.